If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

British Labs / No Force????

Below is an article I found in Gun Dog magazine. I would like everyones thoughts on British Labs and British training methods that apparently "do not use force"?

Gun Dog Article:

There’s a new movement making British Style Field Trials popular again, along with the British strain of Labrador retriever. These Labs are largely born with the behavior of delivering retrieved objects to hand, making it unnecessary to force-fetch them. They are also bred to be calm companions as well as peak performers in the field, according to Robert Milner, who breeds British Labs at Duckhill Kennel. And from what I saw of his 5-week-old puppies to 5-year-old adults, it’s absolutely true.

The big attraction to these trials and British training methods, for me, was the lack of force training. No force to pile, force to water, force anything. For dogs bred to be highly trainable and good at hunting, like my golden, this philosophy says it’s not necessary to use force. It’s very believable after watching several British-trained dogs complete 175-yard blind retrieves through walls of 5-foot tall brush and woods, guided by whistle and hand signals, then stand at heel, steady as a rock, while they watch another dog work.

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

Don't get me wrong, I am interested as well. I have seen some british labs at HRC events, but I wasn't overly impressed, (in the labs defense, it was more of a handler issue with me).
I do know a Trainer that has breed american and british labs, and the result is amazing! As far as the "No Force" thing, well I will never be sold on that idea.

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man.

Sorry,I disagree with you.....this post is NOT ridiculous, too much force is used on the dogs in U.S. and Canada.
Take a good look at the history of field trials and the origin of same.
Not a deviation from the norm either.....it IS the norm not use force, but not eliminating sensible punishment.

Sorry,I disagree with you.....this post is NOT ridiculous, too much force is used on the dogs in U.S. and Canada.
Take a good look at the history of field trials and the origin of same.
Not a deviation from the norm either.....it IS the norm not use force, but not eliminating sensible punishment.

Yawning widely and waiting for another protracted flogging of a dead horse. How many pages this time?

Evan

"Prepare your dog in such a manner that the work he is normally called upon to do under-whelms him, not overwhelms him." ~ Evan Graham“People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.”